"Father's Gone Now"

[Radtech1]

I was going for a sense of absence, of loss, and sadness. Am I there?

http://home.ripway.com/2004-2/78486/Canon/Gone.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

I think you're close - not sure how to improve it. Maybe an old style hat upside down next to the chair? A few leaves lying on & around it?
Think about it awhile & write down your ideas. This frees up your brain to think up more.

[RichardtheSane]

I agree, it is very good and I would be pleased with the shot... but to fit your description it needs just a little more.

The hat & leaves are a good idea. Maybe an old pipe too.

Also I find the amount of black at the tos a little overpowering, can you shoot at a time when there will be a little more of the windows lit. It still needs the darkness there but maybe not as much.

[rick barclay]

Good idea, Rad. You need some artifact of the absent one in the picture,
his old hat, his corncob pipe, or some such thing to make the meaning
of the picture clear.

[Radtech1]

Thanks for the suggestions on props or accouterments. It was, as it turns out, a shot of opportunity rather than a staged shot and, as such, I was unprepared to add anything to what I found. I did not even get the feelings described till I was playing with it in PS. I was noticing that the chair looked like "someone's chair" that was now empty. The color version looked too vibrant, though. Going after the feelings I wanted to evoke, I converted it to mono for a more forlorn feel. Only then did I get the sense of absence. If I ever set out to stage the shot, I will keep in mind using some ancillary items.

[timmyquest]

I like it, and the idea/title, but i was playing around and i think i like it more if you crop the front of the deck off so you cant see the edge/ground.

[whowie]

Great concept, Radtech1, but I think I'd agree with the others (some props, etc) and add to that maybe a little buring in around the windows (window, frame, shingles) to try and bring out some textures in that area and I think I'd shave a tad off the top to get rid of some of the black ("dead") area. I think if you discarded the title and worked at bringing out some of the textures in the old wood you'd have a great image.